Women's Soccer

Ludlum Sets Institute Record as MIT Blanks Coast Guard, 4-0

NEW LONDON, Conn. - MIT women's soccer continued its strong campaign Friday night with a 4-0 victory at Coast Guard. The Engineers have rebounded from back-to-back losses to post consecutive shutouts over conference opponents for the first time since 2002. Once again, leading the charge was senior star Amy Ludlum. Last season's NEWMAC Player of the Year scored the game-winner while setting a new Institute record for career goals with her finish in the 42nd minute.

Coast Guard (1-10-0, 0-4-0) did a great job of limiting MIT's attack in the first half of Friday's match. The Bears held MIT (8-3-0, 3-1-0) to just four shots in the opening frame, while posting seven of their own. However, as the Engineers have proved all season, quality is better than quantity, and the Cardinal and Gray reinforced that strategy late in the first half as Ludlum scored off a direct kick. The unassisted goal was the 49th score of her career, and moved Ludlum ahead of Rebecca Hill (1991-94) on the all-time career goals list at MIT. The first-half finish also served as Ludlum's conference-leading 15th of the season and proved to be her second consecutive game-winner.

The Bears didn't enjoy many terrific chances throughout the NEWMAC tilt, although they were able to keep MIT off the board for much of the match. The Cardinal and Gray, which has displayed a quick-strike offense all year, exploded for three goals in the final nine minutes to stretch the final margin of victory.

Freshman Erica Little set up senior Janine Hopmans for MIT's second strike in the 81st minute, while sophomore Liz Theurer scored less than three minutes later off a pass by Ludlum. In the 86th minute, rookie Lauren Hernley capped the assault by scoring for the third time in four matches since returning from injury. Ludlum set up the final scoring effort to finish the evening with four points.

Junior Stephanie Brenman secured her second straight clean sheet after making four stops against the Coast Guard attack. Trish Ohle also stopped four shots in defeat for the Bears. Coast Guard finished the match with a 14-12 advantage in shots.